Bearcats' Tony Miliano faces battle for UC kicking job

Tony Miliano recently made a weeklong trip to London, which gave the University of Cincinnati football kicker a much deeper perspective on life.

Mainly, former Lou Groza Award candidate Miliano discovered there is a far bigger world than the one in which he fights to keep his UC kicking job.

"It was really eye-opening," said Miliano, an Elder High School graduate. "I never realized, growing up in Cincinnati, how small it is compared to the rest of the world. It really made me more open to more ideas, beliefs, different cultures."

Miliano, a Finance-Real Estate major, made the trip with fellow UC students during spring break in March. The students observed the London business world and did some sightseeing, with Miliano taking advantage of UC's weeklong break from spring football.

It was hardly Miliano's first road trip. Vacations have taken him to Aruba and the Bahamas, and he has traveled the United States as a UC football player.

Yet, the week in Europe also gave Miliano time to ponder his place in football. After a sophomore season (2012) in which he made 17-of-22 field goals, Miliano was named a Lou Groza Award candidate entering his junior year.

But, the 2013 season was the worst of Miliano's three years as UC kicker. Miliano was only 7-for-17 on field goals, with a combination of erratic kicks, two new holders, struggles with wet fields, and two blocked field goal attempts.

Entering 2014, redshirt freshman Andrew Gantz (Centerville High School) is battling Miliano for the kicking job. Gantz has taken some turns with the first team this spring.

Tuberville said he will go with whoever shows the most consistency. Miliano does have three years of game experience, while Gantz has yet to kick in a game.

"Last year, coming in here as a freshman I hadn't really had the in-game experience, and Tony had that experience," Gantz said. "I think Tony and I are both pretty confident. I think it's a pretty open competition right now."

The good-natured Miliano freely admits that Gantz is providing real competition. When UC special teams coach Marc Nudelberg recently put Gantz with the first team, Miliano did not complain.

"I told coach Nudelberg, hey, I want to earn that spot back," Miliano said. "Andrew is such good competition. I'm pushing him and he's pushing me, and we'll both get better."

Certainly, Miliano does not want to spend his final UC season on the bench. Regardless, there is life beyond football.